Tag: bangalore

Lighthouses were saviours of sea-farers from treacherous waters in the pre-digital and pre-GPS era

Lighthouses are a fascinating relic from the pre-digital and pre-GPS era. They were the stuff of legends. Lone warriors against mighty seas. The sea could be either violent or calm, but the mere presence of a lighthouse would mean that the waters were definitely treacherous for the men passing by in their ships or boats.

Lighthouse in Kaup

For many boys, visiting a lighthouse was on the must-do list. And once they went there, they would invariably try to ‘capture the lighthouse’.

Nowadays, no one builds lighthouses. Technology has killed lighthouses. There was a time when entry inside a lighthouse was forbidden. You could only see one from outside, and wonder infinitely what the view from the top would be like. If somehow you managed to enter one and go to the top, you could boast about it to friends and lighthouse fans for the rest of your life.

Since technology made them redundant, no one cares. Many kids would not even be aware of something called a lighthouse. Only a few lucky ones get to see them on a school trip.

Children on a school trip. Will this visit spark an interest in lighthouses? At least, for a handful of them

Over the years, many lighthouses have been abandoned. Most are derelict. That is why the ones that are still intact are being turned into tourist attractions in a bid to save them from decay and disintegration.

Part of the equipment which produces the light that is seen by ships far away at sea

A big challenge is their location. Most are in remote areas. It would be quite a challenge for tourists to even get there. For some, that alone is a big attraction.

On the left: View of the beach from the steps leading to the lighthouse on the hill

Looking out at the sea from the lighthouse

On the right: View of the beach from the lighthouse

I have been a fan, and grabbed the opportunity to visit the lighthouse at Kaup (pronounced Kapu) in Udupi district in coastal Karnataka. It looks sufficiently ancient, but is a relatively modern structure that is well-maintained. Tourism can take some of the credit. The place is packed on weekends.

A spiral staircase is one of the major attractions of a lighthouse. Whether going up or down is a very exciting or intimidating exercise depends on you. A lot of people stop and sit on the stairs to overcome their fear or just to catch their breath. A few feel giddy — either cos of the fear or the sheer excitement!

The beach is clean. Bins have been placed at regular intervals to take care of the favourite pastime of Indians – leaving a trail of garbage in every place they visit.

Imagine you posing for a photograph with this in the background. Welcome to the lighthouse in Kaup

Place: Kaup lighthouse

Location: Kaup, Udupi district, Karnataka

How to get there

Drive north from Mangalore on NH66 – 50 km

Drive south from Madgaon in Goa on NH66 – 320 km

Drive west from Bengaluru towards Mangalore NH75 and then head north on NH66 – 394 km

Places to stay

Look for hotels in Udupi, which is about 15 km to the north on NH66

Bonus

Close to the lighthouse is a narrow road that runs along the coast for several kilometres. On this road, you will come across a lot of locals, their pretty pretty homes, shops, fishing nets and local snacks. It’s a pretty sight. Great way to spend the evening while the sun goes down in the background.